The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-07-16

wagon. He himself stood under a group of overhanging willows unob- served.
 He saw one riding swiftly of be- hind the knoll, following the ravines northward. The others had mounted, and loping toward him entered the trail not far away, and, falling into file, went off without having seen him. It needed but a close view of their features to assure him that these were the half breed sons of Old Fels.
 Tall, swarthy fellows they were, with red complexion, Caucasian fea- lures, long hair and glittering black eyes. They looked ferocious and law less.
 All wore colored blankets wrapped about them, leggings, moccasins and slouch hats. Each bore in his right hand rawhide, flail-shaped la-whet or whip, short and heavy at both ends, with which he pounded his horse at every step. Thrust through the belt of each rider was a repeating rifle, breach uppermost, and a wicked looking knife. The horses were cay- uses or Indian ponies, small, wiry, glass-eyed and restless.
 Calbeck feared that their arrival might precipitate bloody dispute, and decided to hasten on to the camp of the whites. AS he advanced he saw the objects which had excited the half breeds, long rows of short stakes sticking in the ground at regu- lar intervals, reaching from the stream back to the buttes and dotting the level quarter-mile onward.
 The whites were in camp, but treated Calbeck's approach with un- concern, separating as he drew near. Two men went with buckets to the Klat-awa for water. Another shoul- dered theodolitc and started off, &C., companied by two companions with staff and chain. Two others unrolled large parchment and spread it on the ground. Of the seven men who composed the party, only two were near the wagon when Calbeck ar- rived.
 They saluted him courteously and turned again to the parchment, which Calbeck perceived was a plat of the intended town. This indifference seemed strange, for the young man knew that on that far border the ar- rival of any visitor must be an event.
 The morning campfire still smoked near by. Cooking utensils were strewn about. Beneath the wagon were straw and blankets, where some of the party had slept.
 "The best corner-lots seem to be nearly all sold," said one of the pair, bending over the plat.
 "Yes," responded his comrade; "Sen- ator Jones took twenty one, you know, on Main street. Then there is the bank, which will take good cor ner, the post office another, the Meth odist church one, and the stage wait ing-room one. The rest think we had better retain. Where are you from, stranger?"
 T am from Old Fels," replied Cal beck, grimly. 't
 He smiled as they looked up from the plat. He understood now the unconcern with which his ap- proach had been received. They sup posed him interested in the new town, perhaps possible customer, and wished him to believe that others were investing heavily and that a large prospective population was al- ready certain, hoping thus to inveigle him into A purchase'
 Calbeck had seen the wiles by which spectators "boom" western towns, and by which large values are created out of nothing. He could not be de- ceived, and his manner was both lofty and brusque as he looked down sar- upon the plat.
 The two men rose instantly and confronted him. They were of middle age, shrewd and energetic. Each wore a revolver at his side, and from the wagon protruded rifles. Like all of the party, they were robust and quick eyed.
 "From Old Fels, eh? What do you want?"
 Calbeck found it little difficult to begin his self-imposed task. These were men much his superior in age. They were we'll equipped and bore every external evidence of perfected and intelligent purpose. They were nearer his sympathies than the crude "squaw man." and they car ried themselves like persons who knew their rights and were ready to defend them.
 He hesitated a moment; but it seemed certain that Fels was the true owner here. His time worn dwelling, his positive assertions, his simple, al- belt vigorous, character all made it likely. The curator therefore began, in moderate tone, but with an air of "Fels has been here twenty years and has a squatters rights. You cannot get good title to this ground"